Moms are generally responsible persons. We manage to feed and clothe the family, get them where they need to be and see that they get some sleep. It’s a job with few breaks but we stay on the job over the long haul.
That’s why it’s important to schedule some down time in our responsibilities. One of the ways to do that is to declare one dinner meal a week as “every man for himself.”
Of course your season of life will dictate what shape that will take. When you have little ones you’ll still need to provide their meal and cut up food. But as your family grows up you can designate a supper meal each week as your “day off.”
For our family we have two breaks: Friday nights are almost always pizza (frozen or take-out) and Sunday nights are, well, Sunday nights. I say that because when someone asks, “What’s for supper tonight?” they are answered with, “It’s Sunday night.”
I can’t remember the last time I cooked dinner on a Sunday night. Occasionally we have a church event that requires food preparation, but for Sunday nights at home, I don’t cook. It’s legal and I don’t feel guilty. It’s our tradition, no questions asked.
Everyone eats what they can find: leftovers (especially from Sunday lunch), mac-n-cheese, cereal, pancakes, whatever.
It’s not a big deal but it’s a nice break for Mom, both mentally and physically, before the next busy week begins.
This same principle could be applied in other areas: a day off from laundry no matter what, a day once a month to stay in bed all morning, a day out for an afternoon of shopping. Your times off can be good for the family, too, as they do things for themselves.
Little breaks can keep you refreshed, filling your tank so you have plenty to give back over the long haul.
How do you take little breaks? Please leave a comment below!
Charlotte Siems
I'm a happy wife and mom of 12 who lost 100 pounds, shrinking from size 22W to 6 with the T-Tapp workout. I've homeschooled for 26 years, baked a million cookies, taught T-Tapp and kept things together (and mostly sane) at home. I love to help people find practical, real-life solutions for home, family, fitness and business--no guilt or perfection needed!
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I usually take a day off from laundry on Fridays. That’s my husband’s day off so he washes his laundry on that day. Like you I also take a break on Sunday night! These really help me to relax without all the guilt.
I needed to read this today. I have 4 kids 5 and under and have no moments off right now. I love this season of life, but yesterday feelings of burn out seemed awfully close to the surface. I think it would help to sit down with my husband and discuss an “off” principal. Not sure what it will look like… Know it won’t be about not prepping meals yet (smile), but maybe a scheduled day off from laundry, or maybe after dinner one night a week I get to go to my room for 30 mins of no kid time… hmmm… sounds interesting!!
My kids are 12, 9, and 6 – so old enough to entertain themselves safely for longer periods (it does happen, even though when the kids are toddlers it seems like it never will). One day last month my husband had to be away on a Saturday and I really needed to finish up my year end homeschooling reports, so I told the kids on Friday that Saturday would be a day off. They were delighted because usually Daddy has all sort of work for them to do on Saturdays! I didn’t make breakfast or supper, but I did come down around lunchtime and make homemade pizza. They did great and I got done what I needed to. Sometimes it’s good just to have the mental break from having to direct and correct all the time. I think it’s good for the kids and for Mom! I do usually make supper on Sunday night, but we almost always have a movie and nachos – 10 minutes total prep and cooking time!
Having “fend” nights is also a good way to purge that week’s leftovers out of the refrigerator. If you want something that feels like you cooked a proper family meal, get oven-safe storage containers, warm everything gently, and let everyone do a buffet style.